Amalgamator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

R. 'I'. BISHOP.

AMALGAMATOR.

.267,396. Patented NOV. 14, '1882.

N. PKTERS. Fnoxwuxhognpnw. wnshingwn, D.c,

(INU Model.)

No. 267,396. Patented NOV. 14, 188.2.

Tum

N. PLlLKs. Phnnyunmgmplwr. wnshngmn. D. C.

MT1-:D STATES PATENT OTT-ien.`

AlVlALGAlVlATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,396, dated November14, 1.882,

' Application filed July 12, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD T. BISHOP, of St. Louis, in the county ofSt. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Amalgamators; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

Figure l is a vert-ical. sectional view. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectional view ou the line xx, Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a detail view ofthe friction-cone, its casing, and adjoining parts.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to that class of amalgamators in which the ore orpulp is forced, under pressure, through a column of mercury 5 and itconsists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, whichwill be hereinafterfully described, and particularly pointed Y out inthe claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A represents a closed box or vessel,through the top of which pass the ends or arms B O of a U- shaped tubeconfined in said box. The latter should be made steam-tight and providedwith suitable pipes, D E,'for admitting or exhausting steam and hotwater. It is also provided with a suitably-constructed safety-valve, F.

The pipe or tube B terminates at its upper end in a fiunnel or hopper,G. The upper end of tube O is closed, as shown.

H I are screws or shafts, with continuous spiral threads, arranged inthe tubes B C, in which they are tted nicely, as shown. The shafts ofsaid screws are journaled in brackets J, near the lower ends of tubes BO, and in a suitable cross-piece or brace, K, above the same.

The shaft of serewHin tube B has asmall pulley, L, connected by a belt,M, or other suitable driving-gear with a larger pulley, N, upon theshaft of -screwI, which shaft may also be provided with a band-wheel, O,to receive power from suitable driving machinery. At the lower end ofscrew I is attached a grindingdisk or friction cone, P, spirallygrooved, as shown, and revolving within a stout casing, Q, fitted uponthe tube O. The said grinding-disk P coacts with its shell or casing Qto grind or desiccate the pulp passing between said disk and shell intothe smallest particles possible, in order that every atom of gold shallbe exposed to the action of the mercury with which the U-shaped tube B Cis to he partly filled when the device is in operation.

The lower curved end or shoe of the U- shaped tube B C is fitted with aplug, R, to enable the mercury to be removed after amalgamation.

Connected to the upper end of tube 'O is the exit-tube S, which iscoiled'spirally through the condensing-tank T, which contains a suit-`able quantity of cold water.

The operation ofthe machine is as follows: A suitable quantity ofmereuryis poured through the hopper G into the U-shaped tube, and steamor hot water admitted into box A, so as to heat the mercury to about2120 Fahrenheit. The ore or pulp may now be fed into the hopper G andpower applied to the spiral screws. The screw H ,which revolvesveryrapidly, forces the pulp into and through the bent portion or shoe,and through the mercury contained in the same, until it reaches thefriction-cone at the lower end of screw I, which serves to grind andpolish the ore, causing the amalgamation of every particle of preciousmetal. As the ore or pulp passes upward through tube U the resistance ofscrew I, which revolves slowly in said tube, causes a very thorough andcomplete amalgamation to take place. The pulp finally escapes throughthe exit-tube and into the condensing-tank.

When desired, the heating of the mercury, as herein stated, may beomitted; but I have found that better results are attained when it isdone.

When the ore is passed through the machine in its dry state it may befound necessary to admit a jet of water into the exit-pipe to carry theore dust or powder easily through the' latter.

I am aware that a screw-feed has been employed heretofore to force orepulp or pulverized quartz through a bath ofmercury or molten lead, and Iam also aware that the mercury bath has, in such case, been heated by aIOO surrounding steam-jacket. This, therefore7 I do not claim.

I claiml. In an amalgamator, the U-shaped pipeB C, the latter providedwith enlargement Q, the screws H I, the latter being provided with thegrinding disk on the lower end of the saine, and means forrotatingtheserews, as described, whereby the screw I is rotated at alower rate of speed than the screw H, the Whole combined and operating1substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the steam-tight oas ing; A, having pipes I) E, theU-sliaped pipe B C, the spiral screws II I, and means for operating thesaine, the hopper G, grndingdisk 15 P, easing Q), plug` It, andexit-pipe S, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD THOMAS BISHOP.

Witnesses:

THEODORE HUNT, J. T. WATsoN.

